Rockets' Chartier signs NHL deal with San Jose

KELOWNA - San Jose Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has signed Kelowna Rockets forward Rourke Chartier to a standard entry-level contract.

"Rourke is having a tremendous season and has become one of the premiere goal scorers in the Canadian junior leagues," said Wilson. "He has taken his offensive game to a new level this season and plays a very complete game in all three zones. We look forward to watching his steady development."

Chartier, 18, currently leads all Canadian junior players (CHL) in goals (35) and ranks fourth in the Western Hockey League (WHL) in points (54) in 32 games played this season. He was named the WHL Player of the Month for November, and earned the WHL Player of the Week honor from Nov. 3-9. In addition, Chartier attended Canada's National Junior Team Selection Camp in December.

The native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has recorded 141 points (71 goals, 70 assists) in 161 career WHL games with Kelowna. He has already set a career high for goals this season, and needs just five points to equal his career-best for points in a season.

The five-foot-eleven, 190-pound forward was drafted by San Jose in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft.

OPINION This week’s report is a reminder that in a little over a month, April 30, the majority of Canadians need to complete and file their 2017 Canada Income Tax returns to avoid potential late penalties.